Aeroplane.



J. PORTEOUS.

AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 6, I918-' Patented Apr. 29, 1919.

4 SHEETSSHEETI INVENTOR J. PORTEOUS.

AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR-6,1918.

Patented Apr. 29,1919.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

ATTORNEY J. PORTEOUS.

AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR-6,19l8.

Patented; Apr. 29, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

-- INVENTOR I BY M 0% ATTORNEY J. PORTEOUS.- AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 6,19IB.

LBQQDQILQO Patented Apr. 29,1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4- INVENTOR ATTORN EY iinrrn erm ne PATENT onnrcn.

JAMES JE'ORTEOUS OF JE'RCESNO, CALIFORNIA.

AEROPLANE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

. Patented A ree, rate.

Application filed March 8, 1918. fierial No. 220,861.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES PoR'rEoUs, a c1t1zen of theeUnited States, and a resident of the city of Fresno, inthe county of .the propellers can be reversed to slow the speed of the machine for ease in alighting, for placing the engines operating the propellers so that one or more of them can be stopped while flying without interrupting the general movement of the aeroplane; for

.. arranging the planes and the carriage in such -relation that the planes act on the principle of a parachute so that the suspended weight will keep the aeroplane from tipping over, and other objects which will be hereinafter referred to.

. It. should be observedthat most of the objects sought to be accomplished are useful more especially in connection with an aeroplane of large powers intended to carry heavy tonnage and capable of traveling long distances, and not one capable of acrobatic performances.

is shown in section.

In the drawing accompanying this specification Figure 1 shows a View of the aeroplane complete, as seen from the end carrying the propellers, with a part of the frame in section. Fig. 2 is a side view of the plane. .Fig. 3 is an end view, partly in section, of the carriage attached to the plane, showing the relative locations of the propellers, and showing one propeller and the engine connected therewith removed to the interior of the carriage for adjustment, and also showin how the engines canbe arranged in dlfierent locations in relation to the propellers. Fig. 4c is a side view of the carriage with parts cut away to show several modified arrangements of the engines and propellers which arepossible, and showing that the operator has an unobstructed view through the glass front, which glass front Fig." 5 is a View of the top of the frame of the machine showing extended webs to retard the speed in alighting. Fig. 6 is the same view as Fig. 5 without the webs. Fig. 7 is an end sectional view of the inclosure, showing projecting supports for the engines and propellers with uniform engines, and propellers on the engine shafts, and showing one engine removed to the interior of the inclosure and resting "on a detachable slideway table for repairs.

Fig. 8 is a top view of the frame support carrying the engine and propeller, and showing a detachable table top, and screw means for removing the engine and propellerinto I the interior of the inclosure, and for replacing it in position for driving the aeroplane. Fig 9 shows a portion of the interior wall of the inclosure, and ordinary means for closing the opening therein through which the engine and propeller can be removed. Fig. 10 is an end view of the engine support showing the engine therein at the outside end of such support. Fig. 11 is a view of the engine and a sectional end view of the four beams which form the slideways along sec-' tion line 1 on, Fig. 7. Fig. 12 is a detailed view of a journal attached to a supporting bracket carrying the screw used for removing the engine. Fig. 13 shows an end view of the engine in relation to its position in the slideway on a table, and shows a sectional view of said slideway along sectional line m on Fig. 7

In said drawings B represents the carcriage in which is located the engine room, the pilot room and room for passengers or freight. Its front end B is preferably of glass or transparent material so the view of the pilot is unobstructed. The inclosure can he extended the full length of the frame of the aeroplane. The shape of the inclosure is not material, and while Fig. 7 shows it octagonal, experience might show a parallogram preferable, or show the engine room round or octagonal and the remainder of the inclosure a parallelogram. Numbers 2, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, and 26 are planes constructed in the usual manner on aeroplanes. The number of planes may vary, but there should be approximately one for each propeller. I

have shown seven of such planes on the drawing, but a larger or smaller number can be used. There should be a plurality of them. The planes .are arranged one above the other on approximately horizontal lines,

the object being to have the upper ones high 45 arrange I enough above the carriage so that the weight of the carriage and contents will be sus pended from them on the same principle as a weight suspended from a parachute. This construction is intended for the purpose of preventing the machine from tipping over, and for automatically adjusting its equilibrium to the'movement of the passengers, operatorsfetc. Numbers 3 and 3*, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 and 37 are a plurality of, pairs of upright posts used to hold the planes a uniform distance apart. Each pair is a duplicate of the pair 3 and-.3, shown in Fig.- 2. The space between the end posts 3 and 3 and the pair designated as 37 can be filled 1 in so'that the space between the ends of the planes is inclosed. Numbers 4, 41, 42, 4:3, 44:, 4.5, 46, 47 and 48 are a plurality of stay braces used in the ordinary manner of bracing truss work to strengthen the framework carrying the planes. 5 is the mainframe of the aeroplane extending the length of the machine at right angles to the planes. 58 is a portion of the main frame extending forward, and corresponding to the bowsprit of ship. 51, 51 52, 52 53, 53, 54 and 54. are a plurality of guy wires ext nding from the forward end of the extensions 58 to the planes, their. purpose being to make the 3 framework of the aeroplane more rigid. While l[. have shown but eight of such wires on the drawings, I do not confine myself to that number, as a sufficient number should be used to support the planes against the air pressure when flying. 56 and 57 are guy Wires extending from theplanes to the rear end of frame'5.

I D, D D, D, D D D and D area plurality ofarms or propeller supports shown onlthefidrawing as extending radially from the carriage or inclosure B. These propeller supports can be 'inclosed as shown in Fig. 2,

or can be frame work as shown in Fig. 7.

' The pro ellers do not necessarily have .to be ing. The primary-object sought to be attained is the inclosure in which the operator a and passengers can ride without belng exposed to the air and weather, and as a base for, supports for carrying propellers outside the wall of the inclosure, and in such POSlr. tion that they are readily accessible from the. inside of the inclosure. F, F F F F F and F are pro ellers shown in the drawing as carried on t e outside end of supports D In the plan illustrated in each of the figures there should be one engine for each propeller, but this is not essential to the general plan, as one engine mightbe arranged to 60 drive two or more propellers, or mdre than one engine might be hitched to one propeller. I prefer a plurality of engines, each of which is operable without relation to the others except that an arrangement for 35 starting them all in unison through an elecin the order shown on-the draw-.

trical arrangement or otherwise may be used, so that if an engine is disabled it can be stopped, and the only detrimental result will be the temporary discontinuance of a part of a plurality of power units. In Fig. ,4 T have shown two difierent arrangements for the engine. 'lilngineE (in Fig. 4) is shown in support D, outside of the main inclosure B, and having propeller F connected directly with the engine. Engine E is shown.

within the main inclosure B, in which connection the propeller F is carried on a ropeller support 6 extending outwardly rom the wall of inclosure B, and power is conveyed to the propeller by means of belt 6 In Fig. 3 I have shown three difl'erent forms of engines and difl'erent arrangements of the engines in relation to the inclosure B.

F and E are one form of engine which is located Wholly within the interior of the -main inclosure B. Engines E and E are located just outside the wall of inclosure B and are easily accessible from the interior of the inclosure. The propellers F F, F and F are supported on arms D D extending outwardly from the inclosure, and said propellers are 0 erated by means of sprocket chains 7 or ot er well known means for transmitting power. On the engines E and E I have shown ordinary means for reversing the propellers, such means consisting of a drive belt or sprocket, chain f, and a pair of gears g and j. The engines E E E and B Fig. 7.

N, shown in Fig. 5 is a web, preferably of canvas or linen, stretched from frame 5 to lower plane 26, for the purpose of reducing center of the inclosure- B. The outsideframe of engine E is constructed to fit I snugly within this slideway. E and E are ordinary bolts used to-fasten the engine frame firmly to the engine support D when the engine and propeller are in position for driving the aeroplane. M are openings through the wall of inclosureyB at the base of engine supports D, and are of suficient size to permit the engine E and connected propeller F to pass through."- M is a plate, used as a door andis constructed to fit over opening M which can be fastened to the wall of inclosure B in any suitable manner.

are identical to those shown in to screw K.

-of tlie inclosure B and adjacent to the opening 1 H is a table one end of which can be attached to the bracket H, and the other I way corresponding in widtlrto the slidew'ay inthe engine support I). Table H can be adjusted to form a continuous slideway with the slideway in engine support D. H a journal at the inside end of table H. K is a screw which is operable through a threaded hole K which hole is through a portion of the engine frame 5. K is a rank attached Adjoining the handle there should be a smooth portion having shoulders or collars, H and H at each end of the smooth portion, such smooth portion being fitted to journal H It will be noted that by turning the screw K in one direction the engine E is forced along the slideways to a position at the outside end of the slideway in support D, where the engine can be made to rotate the propeller F. By reversing screw K, the engine and attached propeller can be drawn through opening M to the inside of the inclosure for repairs. Table H and the screw 'K can be moved to connect with the slideway of either of the engine supports.

I claim as new and ask for Letters Patent upon:

1. In an aeroplane, the combination of a frame, a plurality of planes arranged along approximately horizontal lines a fixed distance apart, and connected to said frame,

' a closed carriage attached to saidframe, a

plurality of supports extending outwardly from the wall of said inclosure, slideways within said support, and an engine having a propeller attached thereto, and fitted within a frame constructed to slide within said slideway, substantially as described and for the purposes set forth.

2. In an aeroplane having an inclosed carriage thereon, a plurality of openings through the wall of the carriage, a frame containing slideways extending outwardly from the wall of the carriage, and adjacent to the openings in the wall of the carriage, and engines within frames fitted to slide within the slideways and propellers operated by said engines, substantially as described.

3. In an aeroplane having an inclosed car- SEE riagethereon, a plurality of frame supports extending outwardly from, and attached to the wall of the carriage, a slideway extending lengthwise in each support, an auxiliary slideway of the same approximate width as the slideway in the support extending within the interior of the carriage and forming a continuation of the slideway in the support,

an'engine in a frame adapted to slide with-in the slideway, an opening through the wall of the carriage in such relation to the slideways that the frame of the engine can be moved from the auxiliary slideway to the main slideway, substantially as described.

4. In an aeroplane having an inclosed carriage thereon, a plurality of frame supports attached to the wall of the carriage and extending outwardly therefrom, a main slideway extending lengthwise in each support, an auxiliary slideway adapted to be attached to the inner wall of the carriage and to form a continuation of the main slideway, an engine attached to a frame adapted to slide within the slideway, a propeller attached to the engine shaft, an opening through the wall of the carriage of such size and location in relation to the slideways that the engine and attached-propeller can be moved along said slideways, and screw means for moving said -engine and frame within the slideways, substantially as described.

5. In an aeroplane having an inclosed car- 'riage thereon, a plurality of supports extending outwardly from the carriage wall and attached thereto, a main slideway within each of the supports, an adjustable extension of said slideway within the carriage inclosure, said adjustable extension being fornied JAMES PORTEOUS.

Witnesses A. M. DREW, CLEO K. CURTIS. 

